At What A Price Essay, Research Paper
A wise man once said that ?the good of the many outweigh the good of the one?. The question which remains is that of the innocent few. During the latter-half of this century, the name Roosevelt has been associated with a strong-willed individual who brought a nation out of economic decay and enforced it as a world superpower. How would the United States, as well as the free-world view F.D.R?s presidency if evidence was viewed in a more liberal light? Evidence that proved he was not only a strong-willed individual, but a leader who sacrificed his own people, in order to save a foreign power and pull his own country completely out of economic chaos? In information obtained from three texts, details are provided which offer the scenario that F.D.R. is not the man we have come to love. Franklin Delano Roosevelt knowingly sacrificed the lives of American servicemen in order to force our country into the inferno of the second world war. In order to prove this, information must be obtained in three areas. A motive for the action, proof of the action, and the means to cover it up must all be ackowledged for the crime to have been committed.
During 1939, following the invasion of Poland, England and France declared war on Nazi Germany. Americans did not want a repeat of WW1 and were sorely against “sacrificing” American boys in order to save yet another foreign ally. France fell to Germany soon after and England stood alone against unbelievable odds. In 1940 following a 2nd re-election, Franklin Roosevelt knows something must be done soon to hault the Nazi expansion. England is sure to fall to Axis powers, which now include Nazi Germany, Italy, and the ever-expanding Japanese empire. Roosevelt meets at sea with British Prime Minister Churchill in what is known today as the Atlantic Charter (Faragher p. 485). What was not known for sure are the conversations which took place regarding America?a role in the war. Roosevelt understands that if the United States does not enter the war to help England, all of Europe will fall to the Nazi war-machine and trade interests in Europe will cease to exist. The New Deal had strengthened the American economy, but foreign interests were still at question. Roosevelt understands that if England and Europe were not to be helped out of “pure compassion” surely they would be needed to help boost our own economy in trade. Knowing what is at stake, Roosevelt concludes the Atlantic Charter and begins a series of moves which will eventually lead America into a bloody war, spanning accross the entire globe.
Roosevelt realizes that certain steps must be taken prematurely to war because if and when his chance comes, war will begin at the drop of a hat. He begins working with congress in order to gain funding for a peace-time military. He succeeds in gaining a billion dollars to enlarge the US Navy (Faragher p. 484). Roosevelt also signs into effect, the Selective Service and Training Act of 1940 (Diggins p. 10), which begins training and hiring young men in order to strengthen all branches of the US military. The draft is supposedly used to lower the jobless rate. This begins the only draft in American history which is enforced during times of peace. The military is now prepared for a war and Roosevelt turns to the west instead of the east for his next “move”. He understands that a military is nearly useless unless there is a war. He understands that ealier in the century Japan began to expand in southeast Asia and China as they began to feel culturally and militarily cornered. Roosevelt understands that when something is cornered, they will eventually crack and strike out at what is surrounding them. In May of 1940, Roosevelt moves the American Pacific Fleet from San Diego to the territory of Hawaii, almost half a hemisphere closer to the Japanese Empire, and enforces a total embargo of Japanese trade (Faragher p. 484), strengthening Japanese loyalty to Axis membership. Roosevelt understands that according to the Axis-agreement, if one ally is attacked, other Axis members must defend other Axis allies. Even before war was declared, Chief of Staff George C. Marshall and close aides began to develop plans of attacks on densely populated Japanese cities (Dower p. 40), proving that a war was ?already in the works?. America cracks Japan?s highly secretive code (Diggins p. 6), and almost surely begins to hear about what Emperor Hirohito has planned on the horizon. On December 7th 1941, in a highly anticipiated move, Japan launched a “surprise” attack on Pearl Harbor, killing 2400 American servicemen and injuring countless others. Somewhere in the United States, Roosevelt lets out a sigh of relief. The following morning, America was shocked to hear of the tragedy. During a speech of Roosevelt?s which may have been written up almost two years earlier, Roosevelt understands that his game has been played to near perfection and he waits to see the public reaction.
Almost overnight, American opinion shifts into a cry for revenge and America plans to flex it?s military muscle. Opinion shifts from isolationism to those sneaky “yellow-bastards” (forgive the language, but respect the propaganda), whose dark intentions led them to launch a full-scale war against the United States of America (Dower p. 39). The result was incredible. Only one member of congress voted not to declare war against the aggressors, and countless Americans began to rise up in massive patriotism. If it was not young men looking forward to enlistment, it was women going to work in the factories at incredible rates (Diggins p. 15). America had reached a point of critical mass so quickly that no one had noticed what had happened. And no one would for decades. The result of course, is that the United States focused first on Europe, and secondly at the “patsy”, known as the Japanese empire. England was saved, and Europe was liberated. Roosevelt had accomplished his goal by hiding his motivation behind racism and patriotism. But at what a price.
Over 300,000 Americans had lost their lives in WW2 in order to save England from Hitler and his war machine. Of course the opinion is now, that we had fought a war against racism and anti-semitism. That opinion when viewed side by side with the facts is blurred. Roosevelt felt that England must be saved at all costs, including placing Americans in harm?s way. The name Roosevelt is synonomous with pride and patriotism. He is considered to be the last great president the United States has seen. He is the President who pulled us out of the depression, and forced us onto the shoulders of the world to be recognized. Details suggest that he was more than that. He may have also been guilty of sacrificing the few, in exchange for the good of the many. 2400 servicemen were sacrificed on December 7th 1941, in order to force America into WW2. Someone “great” once mentioned it was a day that would live in infamy. That same “great” person, needed that infamous to happen. That same “great” person, wanted that infamous to happen. That same “great” person, was almost surely glad that infamous happened. If the previous evidence proves what is obvious, then this “great” man?s credability is shattered. Along with shattered credability, comes a shattered character. And with that, a fallen hero.
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